Power tool

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a power tool for cutting and bending or laying over wire and the tool is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of printed circuits or circuit boards. The tool comprises a housing having a fluid-actuated piston to which a cutting quill is mounted for movement relative to a quill guide extending forwardly of the housing. The tip end of the quill guide is provided with a notch for receiving a wire extending transversely to the movement of the quill; and a valve means is provided in the housing for controlling the flow of an actuating fluid to the piston and connected quill for effecting the actuation of the piston and connected quill with a positive quick-acting impact to result in severing and bending a wire lead.

James A. Pawloski [721 Inventor East Woodstock, Conn. 06224 21 A l. No.698,085

Dec. 11, 1967 Jan. 5,1971

[22] 'Filed [45] Patented [54] POWER TOOL 7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 140/123, 29/203, 72/326 [51] ,Int. Cl. B21f1/00, B25b 25/00[50] Field of Search 29/2038,

20311, 203HM; 30/180, 228; 72/325, 326; 81/301; 140/117, 123, 124;242/7A; 7/(lnquired) 2,990,613 7/1961 Keane et al. 30/180 3,177,5834/1965 Fischer et al. 30/180 3,255,525 6/1966 Frenzel 81/301 3,429,1702/1969 Romeo 29/203 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham AssistantExaminerE. M. Combs AttorneyArthur T. Fattibene ABSTRACT: This inventionis directed to a power tool for cutting and bending or laying over wireand the tool is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture ofprinted circuits or circuit boards. The tool comprises a housing havinga fluid-actuated piston to which a cutting quill is mounted for movementrelative to a quill guide extending forwardly of the housing. The tipend of the quill guide is provided with a notch for receiving a wireextending transversely to the movement of the quill; and a valve meansis provided in the housing for controlling the flow of an actuatingfluid to the piston and connected quill for effecting the actuation ofthe piston and connected quill with a positive quick-acting impact toresult in severing and bending a wire lead.-

In the manufacture of circuit boards and/unprinted circuits, the leadsof the circuit components, eg resistors; condensers and the like arerequired tobe 'trimmedprior; to suring the same in circuit with thecircuit conductors ofthe circuit board or printed circuit. Usually such.circuit boards or printed circuits are provided with holes through whichthe leads of the various resistor and/6r capacitor components of thecircuit are extended, andthe extended leads soldered in. electricalconnection to the printed circuit. To provide foramore positivemechanical connection it is customary .to extend the leads slightlybeyond .the end of the board after trimming whereby the extended end canthen be bentQinto the plane parallel to the board prior to soldering. Inthe manufacture of such circuit boards and/or printed circuits,-theindividual cutting and bending over of the relatively large number ofleads of such resistors, capacitors and the like'forming a given circuitconstituted atedious, time-consuming and costly operation.

OBJECTS It is, therefore, an object of this inventionto provide animproved power tool for effecting substantially simultaneously both thetrimming or cutting of the excessive lead lengths and the laying over ofthe ends of the wire in an efficient and positive manner to minimize thetime heretofore required for performing such operations. 1 r

It is another object of this. invention to provide a fluid-actuatedpower tool which will uniformly sever the excessive lengths ofthe-leadsof the resistor, transistors,- capacitor or the like elementsutilized in making a printed circuit, and thereafter effecting "thebending of the trimmed lead in a dircction'suhstantially parallel tothesurface or a circuit board or printedeircuit. F I

Another object of the invention. is to provideapower-actuated toolhaving improved valvi'ng system which; enables the tool to be actuatedwitha quick, positivesacting- 'impact to-ef feet substantiallysimultaneous severing and bendingof such leads. i

Another object is. to provide a fluid-actuated power tool; which iscapable of eliminating operating fatigue thereby resulting in moreefficient, accurate and productive work.

Another object of this invention is toprovide an improved cutting andbendingfluid actuatedtoolwhichcan bevariously positioned with respect tothe wire lead. so as to direct the bending of the wireleadinany desireddirection.

Another object is to provide an improved power-actuated cuttingandbending tool'eonstructedso astobe. used-in closely confined areas withease and'facility. i

* SUMMARY OFINV Theforegoingobjects, featuresandiadvantag'esarerattained by a wire cutting and layovertoolcomprisinga housinghaving; av piston chamber formeditherein. Apistonmeans is mounted within the piston chamberfor movementbe-tweenan=operative and an inoperative,- position. fionnectedito the piston.meansfor movement therewith isacutting quilli 'A-quilliguide: having abore formed thereinfor receivingthecutting quill ex+ tends forwardly ofthe housing. The quill is movablerelativeto the guide when: the pistonmeans. is actuated. A. spring; is operatively associated, with" thepiston to: normally: bias the piston. means and 1 connected quilltowardfit's; retracted, in operative position.

2 tion of the valving means. The'valving means is arranged to prohibitthe blow of actuating fluid to the piston chamber until the valve isactuated, and to exhaust the piston chamber to the I atmosphere uponthereturn of the piston acting under the influence of the spring meansacting thereon when the actuating means is released. In one form of theinvention the valving means is normally biased toward its closedposition by the fluid pressure acting thereon. A means is providedadjacent the tip end of the guide for effecting the cutting and layoverof the wire when the piston and connected quill are actuated. The lattermeans comprises a notch which opens'to one side of the guide forreceiving the extended'lead transversely of the cutting quill. Theinvention is such that when the piston is actuated under fluid pressure,the quill connected thereto is advanced to sever and bend the leaddisposed transversely thereto. A feature of this invention resides in afluid-actuated hand tool having an improved valve structure to controlthe flow of fluid to the actuating piston and connected quill in amanner which insures the rapid and positive actuation of the piston.

Another feature of this invention resides in an improved valve structurefor use in'a cutting and bending tool which is relatively simple inconstruction, can be readily fabricated and which is positive inoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a poweroperated cuttingand bending tool embodiment in which the valve means is constructed andarranged so as to be normally biased toward inoperative position by theforce of the fluid pressure acting thereon.

Other features and advantages will be rendered readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view illustrating the componentpartsof the cutting and bending toolof this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an assembled sectional view of the cut and I bendtool of FIG. 1, in which the parts are. illustrated in the Formed inthe; housing. adjacent the: piston cha mber isqa.

valving chamber havingafluidfinletiadaptedito;connect toasource of fluidsupply, and1a= fluidioutlet; the. latter/being comnected intocommunicatiorrwiththe pistoncharnber; A-:valv-- i ng means, isdisposediin the valving: chamber'forrdirec'ting the flow. of fluid,pressure, frornqthe valvingchamberrtq-the piston chamber-t0 control theactuation-ofthe piston.rneanscandzeon-v nected quill. Thevalvingmeanscomprises-athree-way valve disposedin the =pathofanactuating-:mearisito effect the operanormal, inoperativepositionthereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that'of FIG. 2 but illustrating thecomponent parts in the operative position thereof;

FIG. 4' illustratesa fragmentary exploded view illustratingamodifiedform of the invention; FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentarysectional view illustrating the assembly of the modified valveconstruction-of FIG. 4, in inoperative position and FIG. 5A in theoperative position thereof;

FIG. 6: illustrates an enlarged detail plan view of the quill tip;

EIG..7 illustrates a side view of a circuit board illustrating themanner inzwhichthel'eads of theresistoror'the like arecut and'bent bythe tool;

FIG. 8 illustrates thebottom view of the-tip end of the quill guide; and

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are modified'b'ottom views of the tip endofthe.guide.

Referringto'FIGSLl", 2sand3of the drawings, thereisshown' prisesgenerally of a-rigidibaeking member 22:'on=which"th'ere istprinted. a.suitable circuit; Such circuit boards 2Z having a= plurality. ofhol'es-23* which" extend. through portions of the printed eircuitonthe.boardi22i Theholes 23*are' to accommodate the leads 24 of'a .componentelement, e.'g. a resistor;

transistor; capacitor and? the like '25: The. circuit components in:the. form ofresistors or the-like -25are'connected incircuit byextending: the leads 24 thereof through an appropriateopening-23and'connectingthem in electrical contact with theprinted'circuitias byzsolderingz' The excess leadi' lengths may then be'cutor trimmed;

With the cut-andbend ltool 20 of this invention the electrical bondior-connectionnof the leads-24km the'printed' circuit' ismechanicallyenhanced' by bending the trimmed lead"24- toapositionzparallel to the'board; as shown'at26 in" FIG. 7-'pri'ort,o

soldering. The bent lead thus increases the strength of the connectionto the board.

The tool for cutting and bending such leads prior to soldering of FIGS.1 to 3 comprises a housing 27 which includes a power end portion 27Ahaving an open end cylinder chamber 28 formed therein in which a pistonmeans 29 is reciprocally mounted, an end cap 30 having a central opening31 fitted to the open end of the piston chamber 28 to define the chamber28, and a pin housing or tip end portion 32. As shown, one end 30A ofthe end cap 30 is snugly received within the chamber 28 and the otherend 308 is provided with a threaded connection by which the pin housing32 is detachably secured thereto.

The pin housing 32 is provided with longitudinally extending bore 32Adisposed in axial alignment with the central opening 31 of the end cap30. In the illustrated form of the invention the end cap 30 is securedto the power end portion 27A of the housing 27 by suitable lock pin 33which extends through aligned openings 34, 35 formed in the power endportion 27A of the housing 27 and the end cap 30.

A piston means 29 is reciprocally mounted for movement within the pistonchamber 28. As shown, the piston means 29 comprises a piston head 29Aformed with an annular groove 36 in which there is fitted a sealing ringor piston cup 37 formed of resilient material as for example rubber orthe like. As best seen in FIG. 2 the outer periphery of the piston cupor seal bears against the internal surface of the chamber 28 to form aseal against the loss of fluid pressure when the piston is actuated. Astem 38 is connected to the piston 29 and extends forwardly thereof, theforward end thereof having opposed flats 38A adapted to be received inthe bifurcated end portion 39 of a quill guide 40 which extends throughand forwardly of the pin housing 32. A quill 41 is connected to the stemportion 38 and it extends through the central opening 31 of the end cap30 and through a bore 40A formed in the quill guide 40. A spring meansin the form of a coil spring 42 is interposed about the stem 38 betweenthe end cap 30 and the piston head 29A in a manner so that the springnormally biases the piston head 29A toward an inoperative position asseen in FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the quill 41 is mounted within the bore40A of the quill guide 40 for limited relative movement with respectthereto. The tip end 41A of the quill 41 is tapered to define a cuttingedge.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the bore or valve chamber 43 extends intothe power end portion 27A in a direction substantially transverselythereof. Counterbored in the bottom wall 44 of the valving chamber 43 isa guide well or recess 45. The valving chamber 43 is connected incommunication with the piston chamber 28 by means of a longitudinallyextending passageway 46. Formed in the end wall 278 of the power endportion 27A of the housing 27 is an opening 47 defining a fluid inletwhich communicates with the interior of the valving chamber. It will beunderstood that the inlet 47 is formed to provide for a quill disconnectcoupling with a conduit or hose adapted to connect to a source of fluidsupply, e.g. compressed air. A valve body 48 in the form of an annularsleeve is secured within the valving chamber 43. The valving sleeve orbody 48 is provided with an outlet 49 disposed in communication with thepassageway 46 to the piston chamber 28. The arrangement is such that oneend of the valve body or sleeve 48 is disposed substantially coincidentwith the plane or surface of the housing 27A. Each end of the valve bodyor sleeve 48 is formed with an annular valve seat 48A, 48B and a valvemember 50 is disposed within the valve body 48 for sequentially valvingsaid valve seats 48A, 4813. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, therespective valve seats 48A, 48B are disposed on either side of the fluidoutlet 49.

The valve member 50 comprises a spool-type valve having spaced valveheads 50A, 50B interconnected by the spool stem 50C. Each valve head50A. 50B is formed with an annular groove 51 in which a resilientsealing or O ring 52. 53 is seated. It will be noted that the spool stem50C is of sufficient length so that the valve member is free toreciprocate within the valve body to valve one or the other valve seats50A, 508. An extension 50D connected to one end of the spool valve 50 isreceived in the well 45 or recess for guiding the movement of the spoolvalve 50. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower valve head 50B andthe sealing ring 53 secured therein is arranged so that it is at alltimes disposed above the center line of the fluid inlet 47, and that itslimit of movement is confined between the centerline of the inlet 47 tothe valve chamber 43 and the bottom seat 408 of the valve body or sleeve48.

The end cap 30 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extendingbores to form passageways 55 for venting the piston chamber 28 to thepin housing 32, the latter in turn being provided with a vent opening 56which exhausts to the atmosphere. The arrangement is such that inoperation, the air or fluid in the chamber 28, being displaced by thepiston 29 as it moves from the normal inoperative position as seen inFIG. 2 to the operative position as seen in FIG. 3, will be exhaustedthrough the longitudinal passageways 55 of the end cap and the ventopening 56 of the pin housing 32 to atmosphere. On the return stroke ofthe piston 29 under action of spring 42, the air or fluid beingdisplaced in chamber 28 is exhausted out through passageway 46 and theopen seat 48A of the valve sleeve 48.

The tip end of the quill guide 40 is provided with a notch 57 whichopens to one side. The notch 57 extends substantially transversely tothe bore 40A of the quill guide 40. The arrangement is such that whenthe quill guide 40 is presented to the lead 24 to be cut and bent, thelead 24 extending beyond the circuit board is received in the notch 57so as to extend in the path of movement of the quill 41 upon actuationof the piston. The movement of the quill 41 toward the tip end of thequill guide causes the cutting end 41A of the quill to sever theextended length of the lead 24, and at the same time due to the inclinedtip end 41A of the quill the lead is bent or layed over to a positionparallel to the circuit board as seen in FIG. 7.

The tip end of the quill guide 40 is truncated to define anelliptically-shaped surface 58, which it has been discovered enables thetip end of the quill guide 40 to be used in closer, more confined areas,thereby permitting the tool to be used for close work. It will be notedthat the angle in which the tip end of the quill guide is truncated withrespect to the horizontal determines the angle at which the tool may bepositioned relative to the circuit board. FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustratethe guide tip truncated at angles of 20, 30 and 45.

An actuator means in the form of a treadle lever 59 is connected to thehousing to effect actuation of the tool 20. As shown, a lever mount 60is suitably secured to the end of the housing 27A by suitable fasteners61 as for example screws or the like. Pivotly connected at 62 to theextended end of the lever mount 61 is the treadle lever 59. Thearrangement is such that the treadle lever 59 extends forwardly of thehousing 27 so as to engage the head end 50E of the valving member 50which normally extends beyond the housing when the tool is connected toa source of fluid pressure. Thus to effect operation of the too] thetreadle lever 59 is depressed and released. The operation of the tool isas follows:

With the inlet 47 of the tool 20 connected to a source of fluidpressure, e.g. compressed air, the pressure of the fluid flowing throughthe inlet 47 will normally tend to displace the valve member 50 upwardlyas viewed in FIG. 2 to position the lower valve head 50B in sealingposition against the valve seat 488. In this position the head 50E ofthe valve member 50 extends beyond the housing 27A, as seen in FIG. 2.Because the lower seat 488 is valved closed and is maintained closedbecause of the fluid pressure acting thereon, the force of the spring 42acting on the piston 29 tends to maintain the piston 29 and connectedquill 41 in a protracted position as seen in FIG. 2.

When the treadle lever 59 is actuated the head 50E of the valve member50 is displaced into the valve body 48 causing the lower valve seat 4813to be valved open and the upper valve seat 48A to be valved closed bypiston head 50A. In doing so, the activating fluid is directed throughthe lower i so the air being displaced on the other side of the piston29 is exhausted to atmosphere through passageway 55 and vent opening 56of the housing portion 32. Displacement of the piston 29 causes thequill 41 to be moved relative to the quill guide 40, the force thereofbeing sufficient to cut and bend any wire lead 24 disposed within thenotch 57in the tip end of the guide 40. So long as the treadle lever 59is depressed, the fluid pressure acting on the piston 29 maintains-theconnected -quill41 extended.

.As soon as the force on the treadle lever 59 is removed, the force ofthe fluid pressure actingon'the piston head 50B will tend to liftthesame into sealing position against the seat 488 thereby shutting offthe flow of fluid pressure to the piston chamber 28. The biasor tensionof the spring 42 acting on the' piston head29 tends to restore the.piston and connected quill to itsnormal inoperative position. In doingso, the air displaced between the piston head 29 and the end wall 63 ofthe piston chamber-28 is exhausted or vented to atmosphere through thepassageway 46, opening-48 andthe open upper valvcseat 48A. 1

FIGS. 4 and illustrate a modifiedform of the invention. In thisembodiment tool 70is identical in every respect to the one hereinbeforedescribed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that the valveconstruction differs.- In this form of'the invention the valvebody 71comprises a cup-shaped member 71A having a closed bottom portion 72which is snugly receivedin the valve chamber 73 and secured therein asby a retainer ring 74 and'valve body cap 75. The valve body 71 isprovided with an inlet opening 76 which is disposed into alignment withthe fluid inlet' 47 to the housing 27A. Circumscribing the end portionof the valve body 71 is a groove 77 having a plurality of radial ports78, the groove. 77 being disposed into communicationwith a passageway 79defined by a flatformed on the valve body 7l and a wall portion of thevalve chamben-Passageway 80,1eading to the piston chamber 28 is disposedin communicationwith passageway 79.

As seen in FIG. 5 the power end portion 27A of the housing 27 isprovided with-radial opening8l disposedin axial alignment with one endof the valving chamber 73.

Disposed in the. valve body 71 is a spool-type valve member 82 havingastern82A and a connected extension 823 extending out through the opening81 formed in the housing 27A. The valve stem 82A and extension 828 areprovided with a longitudinally extending bore 83 in which there ishoused a spring 84 which normally urges the extension 828 of the stem82A outwardly of the housing 27A to engage against the lever 59. Formedin the extended end 82B of the valve stem 82A are a plurality of ventsopenings 85 arranged to exhaust to the atmosphere'. Disposed about thevalve stem 82A are a pair of I spaced valve heads 86, 87 with seals 86Aand 87A.

In operation the spring 84 in the valve 82 normally maintains theupper'valve head 86 portion'against the end wall 73A of the valvingchamber 72 with its side seals 86A sealing the valve body against lossoffluid pressure. With the tool connected to a source of fluid pressurethe fluid pressure is confined to the chamber 88 defined between valveheads 86, 87 and is prohibited fromentering the piston chamber 28. Whenthe valve member'82 is displaced so that the lower valve head 87 isdisposed below the ports 81 opening to groove 77. In this position thefluid pressure entering the inlet 76 is directed through ports 78 to theannular groove. 77. The annular groove 77 defined in the valve body inturn is connected by passageway 79v to the passageway'80, which leadsinto the valving chamber 28 thereby enabling the pressure of the fluidin chamber 28 to efiect displacement of the piston and the connectedquill to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. In doing so, the air between thepiston head 29 and the end closure 30 is exhausted through passagewaysformed in the end cap and the 1 the treadle lever 59 is depressed to aposition shown in F IG. 5,

returned to its inoperative position, as seen in FIG. 5, thereby cuttingoff the flow of fluid pressure to the piston chamber 28. In doing so,the spring acting 42 on the piston head 29A biases the piston 29 towardits inoperative position. thereby displacing the fluid between thepiston head 29A and the end of the piston chamber. Upon the returnstroke of the piston, is exhausted through passageways80, 79; throughport openings 78; and out through the bore of valve member 82 andthrough the valve stem vents to the atmosphere.

While the illustrated forms of the invention are shown as being actuatedby a hand treadle 59 it will be readily understood and appreciated thata foot-actuating treadle may be suitably connected to the end of thetool whereby actuation of the tool may be effected by foot operation.

While the present invention has been described with respect to severalembodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated and understood thatvariations and modifications may be madewithout departing from thespirit or scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A readily portable wire cutting and mg:

means defining a housing;

apiston means reciprocally mounted in said housing for movement betweenoperative and inoperative positions;

said piston means including a cutting quill connected thereto;

a guide projecting outwardly fromvsaid housing, said guide having a boreextending therethrough for receiving said quill, whereby said quill ismoved relative to said guide when said piston means and connected quillare actuated;

means in the form of a notch formed in the end of said guide to one sidethereof, said notch being disposed transversely of said bore forreceiving and effecting the cutting and layover of the wire when saidpiston means and connected quill are actuated;

a spring means acting on said guide and said piston means for normallybiasing said piston and connected quill toward inoperative position;

a valve means disposed in said housing for introducing an actuatingfluid on one side of said piston means whereby the force of the fluidpressure acting on said piston means overcomes the bias action on saidquill to effect movement thereof toward operative position;

means for actuating said valve means; and

said guide having a tip end portion which is acutely angled to be placedin contact with the circuit board so as to position the longitudinalaxis of said quill at an acute angle with respect to the plane of acircuit board.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing meansincludes:

a piston housing having a chamber formed therein defining a cylinder forsaid piston means;

an end cap connected to the end of said piston housing;

said end cap having an opening therein for receiving said quill;

and said piston housing including a valve chamber formed adjacent theother end of said piston housing;

means defining a passageway interconnecting said valve chamber with saidpiston chamber, and means defining a fluid inlet to said valve chamber;

said valving means including a valve body disposed within said valvechamber;

said valve body having an outlet disposed in communication with saidpassageway;

and a valve member disposed in said valve body for controlling the flowof fluid pressure from said inlet to said passageway;

said valve body including a cylindrical sleeve having a valve seatformed on each end thereof layover tool comprisand said valve membercomprises a spool valve having spaced valve heads adapted to engage insealing relationship with one of said valve seats; and

said valve head on the inlet side of said valve body is disposed abovethe centerline of said inlet so that fluid pressure acting on said valvemember normally maintains one of said valve heads seated against theinlet end of said valve body to prohibit the passage of fluid to saidpassageway independently of any springs.

3. A portable hand held, wire-cutting and bending tool comprising:

a housing having a piston chamber formed therein;

a piston means mounted in said piston chamber for movement betweenoperative and inoperative positions;

said piston means including a connected cutting quill;

a quill guide extending outwardly from said housing;

said quill guide having a bore extending therethrough for receiving saidquill whereby said quill is moved relative to said guide when the pistonmeans is actuated;

said quill guide having a notch formed in one side thereof adjacent thetip end thereof, said notch extending transversely of said bore;

said quill guide having a tip end acutely angled relative to thelongitudinal axis of its bore to dispose the longitudinal axis of saidbore at an acute angle when the tip end is placed in contact with acircuit board;

a means normally biasing said piston means and connected quill towardinoperative position;

means defining a valving chamber formed in said housing;

means defining a fluid inlet to said valving chamber;

means defining a passageway connecting said valving chamber incommunication with said piston chamber;

a valving means disposed in said valving chamber for controlling theflow of fluid pressure through said valving chamber to said pistonchamber to actuate said piston means and connected quill;

an actuating means operating said valve means; and

means for venting said piston chamber to atmosphere when said pistonmeans is actuated.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said valving chamber has its fluid inlet adapted to connect to a sourceof fluid pressure, and an outlet in communication with said passageway;

and means defining a valve seat interposed between said inlet andoutlet;

and said valve means having a valve head adapted to seat on said valveseat to control the flow of fluid through said valve chamber; and

said valve head being disposed above said fluid inlet so that thepressure of said fluid normally maintains said valve head seated againstthe valve seat independently of any springs to prohibit the flow offluid therethrough.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and said valving chamberincluding a guide recess adjacent one end thereof and said spool valveincluding a guide extension adapted to be received in said guide recessfor guiding said valve between operative and inoperative positions.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve bodycomprises:

a member having a bore extending thereinto;

said member having an opening for communicating said fluid inlet to saidbore;

an external annular groove circumscribing said member;

said groove having an opening defining an outlet from said bore tocommunicate with said passageway;

a valving member disposed in said bore;

said valving member having a hollow stem extending beyond the end ofsaid bore and said housing;

a spring means disposed within said h'ollow stem; and

said stem having a vent opening adapted to exhaust to atmosphere.

7. A portable, freely movable wire cutter and layover power toolcomprising:

a housing including a power end portion having an open end pistonchamber formed therein; an end cap having a central opening thereinclosing the open end of said piston chamber;

and a guide end portion connected to said end cap;

a piston means including a piston head reciprocally mounted in saidpiston chamber;

a cutting quill connected to said piston head;

said cutting quill extending through said central opening of the endcap;

a spring means disposed between said piston head and said end cap fornormally biasing said piston head and connected quill toward inoperativeposition;

a quill guide connected to said guide end portion;

said quill guide having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receivesaid quill;

a valve chamber formed in said power end portion;

an inlet connected in communication with said valve chamber;

a passageway connecting said valve chamber in communication with saidpiston chamber;

a cylindrical valve body disposed in said'valve chamber;

said valve body having an outlet disposed in communication with saidpassageway;

a means defining a valve seat on each end of said cylindrical valvebody;

said valve seats being disposed on opposite sides of said valve bodyoutlet;

a valving member comprising a spool valve;

said spool valve including a first and second valve head for alternatingvalving said valve seat whereby one of said valve seats opens to theatmosphere;

means for guiding said spool valve within said valve chamber;

said valve spool being disposed to one side of the center line of saidfluid inlet whereby the force of said fluid pressure normally urges saidspool valve toward inoperative position to close said outlet from saidinlet independently of any spring;

and an actuator operating on said spool valve to actuate said spoolvalve toward operative position for directing fluid pressure throughsaid outlet and connected passageway to effect displacement of saidmeans for venting said piston chamber to the atmosphere;

and means formed on said quill guide for effecting the cutting andlayover ofa wire when the quill is actuated;

said latter means comprising a notch which opens to one side of saidguide and extends transversely of said bore for receiving a wireextending transversely through the bore in said guide; and

said quill including a tapered end portion that is acutely angled andsaid quill guide having a complementary acutely angled tip end wherebysaid guide and associated quill is disposed at an acute angle withrespect to the circuit board in the operative position thereof.

1. A readily portable wire cutting and layover tool comprising: meansdefining a housing; a piston means reciprocally mounted in said housingfor movement between operative aNd inoperative positions; said pistonmeans including a cutting quill connected thereto; a guide projectingoutwardly from said housing, said guide having a bore extendingtherethrough for receiving said quill, whereby said quill is movedrelative to said guide when said piston means and connected quill areactuated; means in the form of a notch formed in the end of said guideto one side thereof, said notch being disposed transversely of said borefor receiving and effecting the cutting and layover of the wire whensaid piston means and connected quill are actuated; a spring meansacting on said guide and said piston means for normally biasing saidpiston and connected quill toward inoperative position; a valve meansdisposed in said housing for introducing an actuating fluid on one sideof said piston means whereby the force of the fluid pressure acting onsaid piston means overcomes the bias action on said quill to effectmovement thereof toward operative position; means for actuating saidvalve means; and said guide having a tip end portion which is acutelyangled to be placed in contact with the circuit board so as to positionthe longitudinal axis of said quill at an acute angle with respect tothe plane of a circuit board.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein said housing means includes: a piston housing having a chamberformed therein defining a cylinder for said piston means; an end capconnected to the end of said piston housing; said end cap having anopening therein for receiving said quill; and said piston housingincluding a valve chamber formed adjacent the other end of said pistonhousing; means defining a passageway interconnecting said valve chamberwith said piston chamber, and means defining a fluid inlet to said valvechamber; said valving means including a valve body disposed within saidvalve chamber; said valve body having an outlet disposed incommunication with said passageway; and a valve member disposed in saidvalve body for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from said inlet tosaid passageway; said valve body including a cylindrical sleeve having avalve seat formed on each end thereof and said valve member comprises aspool valve having spaced valve heads adapted to engage in sealingrelationship with one of said valve seats; and said valve head on theinlet side of said valve body is disposed above the centerline of saidinlet so that fluid pressure acting on said valve member normallymaintains one of said valve heads seated against the inlet end of saidvalve body to prohibit the passage of fluid to said passagewayindependently of any springs.
 3. A portable hand held, wire-cutting andbending tool comprising: a housing having a piston chamber formedtherein; a piston means mounted in said piston chamber for movementbetween operative and inoperative positions; said piston means includinga connected cutting quill; a quill guide extending outwardly from saidhousing; said quill guide having a bore extending therethrough forreceiving said quill whereby said quill is moved relative to said guidewhen the piston means is actuated; said quill guide having a notchformed in one side thereof adjacent the tip end thereof, said notchextending transversely of said bore; said quill guide having a tip endacutely angled relative to the longitudinal axis of its bore to disposethe longitudinal axis of said bore at an acute angle when the tip end isplaced in contact with a circuit board; a means normally biasing saidpiston means and connected quill toward inoperative position; meansdefining a valving chamber formed in said housing; means defining afluid inlet to said valving chamber; means defining a passagewayconnecting said valving chamber in communication with said pistonchamber; a valving means disposed in said valving chamber forcontrolling the flow of fluid pressure througH said valving chamber tosaid piston chamber to actuate said piston means and connected quill; anactuating means operating said valve means; and means for venting saidpiston chamber to atmosphere when said piston means is actuated.
 4. Theinvention as defined in claim 3 wherein: said valving chamber has itsfluid inlet adapted to connect to a source of fluid pressure, and anoutlet in communication with said passageway; and means defining a valveseat interposed between said inlet and outlet; and said valve meanshaving a valve head adapted to seat on said valve seat to control theflow of fluid through said valve chamber; and said valve head beingdisposed above said fluid inlet so that the pressure of said fluidnormally maintains said valve head seated against the valve seatindependently of any springs to prohibit the flow of fluid therethrough.5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and said valving chamberincluding a guide recess adjacent one end thereof, and said spool valveincluding a guide extension adapted to be received in said guide recessfor guiding said valve between operative and inoperative positions. 6.The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve body comprises: amember having a bore extending thereinto; said member having an openingfor communicating said fluid inlet to said bore; an external annulargroove circumscribing said member; said groove having an openingdefining an outlet from said bore to communicate with said passageway; avalving member disposed in said bore; said valving member having ahollow stem extending beyond the end of said bore and said housing; aspring means disposed within said hollow stem; and said stem having avent opening adapted to exhaust to atmosphere.
 7. A portable, freelymovable wire cutter and layover power tool comprising: a housingincluding a power end portion having an open end piston chamber formedtherein; an end cap having a central opening therein closing the openend of said piston chamber; and a guide end portion connected to saidend cap; a piston means including a piston head reciprocally mounted insaid piston chamber; a cutting quill connected to said piston head; saidcutting quill extending through said central opening of the end cap; aspring means disposed between said piston head and said end cap fornormally biasing said piston head and connected quill toward inoperativeposition; a quill guide connected to said guide end portion; said quillguide having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive saidquill; a valve chamber formed in said power end portion; an inletconnected in communication with said valve chamber; a passagewayconnecting said valve chamber in communication with said piston chamber;a cylindrical valve body disposed in said valve chamber; said valve bodyhaving an outlet disposed in communication with said passageway; a meansdefining a valve seat on each end of said cylindrical valve body; saidvalve seats being disposed on opposite sides of said valve body outlet;a valving member comprising a spool valve; said spool valve including afirst and second valve head for alternating valving said valve seatwhereby one of said valve seats opens to the atmosphere; means forguiding said spool valve within said valve chamber; said valve spoolbeing disposed to one side of the center line of said fluid inletwhereby the force of said fluid pressure normally urges said spool valvetoward inoperative position to close said outlet from said inletindependently of any spring; and an actuator operating on said spoolvalve to actuate said spool valve toward operative position fordirecting fluid pressure through said outlet and connected passageway toeffect displacement of said means for venting said piston chamber to theatmosphere; and means formed on said quill guide for effecting thecutting and layover of a wire when the quill is actuated; said lattermeans comprising a notch which opens to one side of said guide andextends transversely of said bore for receiving a wire extendingtransversely through the bore in said guide; and said quill including atapered end portion that is acutely angled and said quill guide having acomplementary acutely angled tip end whereby said guide and associatedquill is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the circuit board inthe operative position thereof.